different between offhand vs halfhearted

English

Alternative forms

• off-hand

Etymology

From Middle English *ofhande, *ofhende, from Old English ofhende (“absent, lost”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *abahandijaz. Equivalent to off- +? hand. Cognate with Icelandic afhendur. Compare onhand.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /??f?hænd/
• Rhymes: -ænd

Adjective

offhand (comparative more offhand, superlative most offhand)

1. Without planning or thinking ahead.

2. Careless; without sufficient thought or consideration.

3. Curt, abrupt, unfriendly.

Synonyms

• (without planning): impromptu, extemporaneous, off-the-cuff; see also Thesaurus:impromptu

Translations

See also

• off the top of one's head

Adverb

offhand (comparative more offhand, superlative most offhand)

1. Right away, immediately, without thinking about it.
   • Offhand, I'd guess that that's a yellow-bellied sapsucker.
   • 1854, William Makepeace Thackeray, The Rose and the Ring:

     We will have no more of this shilly-shallying! Call the Archbishop, and let the Prince and Princess be married offhand!

2. In an offhand (adjective) manner.

Anagrams

• hand off, hand-off, handoff

English

Alternative forms

• half-hearted

Etymology

From half +? hearted.

Pronunciation

Adjective

halfhearted (comparative more halfhearted, superlative most halfhearted)

1. Lacking full energy, effort, commitment, or resolve.

   Synonym: lukewarm
2. (obsolete) Lacking in heart or spirit; ungenerous; unkind.

   • such animals,
     Half-hearted creatures, as these are, your fox there

Derived terms

• halfheartedly
• halfheartedness

Translations

See also

• insincere
• tepid
• wholehearted

Further reading

• halfhearted at OneLook Dictionary Search